CONTAINER FRAUD

BECAUSE WE CARE

An established container company, Topshell is well-aware that many innocent people fall victim to container fraud. In fact, according to statistics, South Africans lose up to R300 000 per day due to these double-dealing fraudsters.

In order to combat container fraud, Topshell has joined Container Fraud Prevention. Sponsored by its members, this industry watch group is committed to protecting the public from unscrupulous scammers. They do this by raising public awareness surrounding container scams and identifying legitimate container suppliers, such as Topshell.

As a business that adheres to a strict ethical code, we sincerely hope that our association with CFP will contribute to a safer South Africa.

PURCHASING TIPS

TOP TIPS TO AVOID CONTAINER SCAMS

Container Fraud Platform has compiled a handy list of tips to spot fraudsters before they spot you.

01. HEED HACKED WEBSITES

SIGNS A WEBSITE HAS BEEN HIJACKED

01. A browser warning that you may be accessing a potentially harmful site.

02. Website address and email domain are not the same.

03. Random redirects to other websites or content.

02. CONFIRM WEBSITE ADDRESS

Scammers often fool the public by creating the same website on another domain that looks very similar.

A hyphen or additional character will be added to the domain address letting you think you reached the right business.

03. READ REVIEWS & REPORTS

Conduct online research. If a company is repeatedly accused and/or reported for unethical business practices and outright scams, avoid them.

Please note: Just because a website has been active for an extended period of time and/or they advertise on Google, Facebook, and other social media sites, does not mean they are legitimate. Many fraudulent sites have been active for a long time and place ads in order to swindle consumers out of their hard-earned money.

04. BE WARY OF MASSIVE DISCOUNTS

It’s important to be able to differentiate between a bargain and a scam. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is!

Use CPF’s handy Pricing Guide, an easy-to-read reference giving indicative shipping container prices.

05. Payment & Deposits

Should a container company not be able to provide you with the required documents to facilitate the transaction, we highly recommend you do not proceed with any form of payment.

If in doubt ask for the relevant documentation before handing over your hard-earned cash. Some of these include but are not limited to:

Letter of Good Standing (VAT)
Banking Details Confirmation Letter. This should match the invoice details.
Formalized quotations and invoices
Company Vat Registration Number

It’s always good to visit the facility when making a purchase to ensure it’s a physical business and not a storefront.

TIP: Due to fraud, many legitimate companies may not want to expose themselves. That said, some form of Company Identification should always be provided.

Please refer to CFP’s Pricing Guide to ensure you are not being misled.

06. Arrange a Viewing

To save on transport costs, empty storage containers can be sold directly from major depots.

Arranging inspections for empty container sales are imperative as these are usually sold Cash on Delivery (COD).

If an ISO Container inspection can’t be arranged, schedule an appointment at the company address to facilitate the transaction, rather than handling it solely via email and/or telephonically.

RESOURCES